AP World History: The Mongols

The Mongols

Nomadic people from the steppe (grasslands) of central Asia

Steppe too dry for farming; Mongols relied o herding and became very skilled with horses

Harsh environment/competition for scarce resources created tough and fierce warriors

Mongol Clans

Mongols divided into clans. Each clan was led by a khan, or chief

Shamanism

Some individuals (shamans) have the power to move between the physical and spiritual worlds and influence events in both

Incorporation of other religions into Mongol Shamanism

The nomadic Mongols incorporated ideas from Islam, Buddhism, and Christianity into their own shamanistic traditions (religious pluralism)

Genghis Khan

Genghis Khan united the Mongol clans in 1206 as the Great Khan and embarked on a campaign of conquest. He established the Mongol Empire and employed brutality and psychological warfare

Mongol Military Tactics

Mongols used fast-moving cavalry tactics and powerful bows to defeat their enemies. Mongols adopted new weapons and tactics from their enemies, including iron weapons and catapults

Death of Genghis Khan

Genghis died in 1227 and his son, Ögodei, became the Great Khan and continued the Mongol conquests

Batu Khan

The grandson of Genghis Khan, he conquered Kievan Russia and parts of Poland and Hungary to create the khanate of the Golden Horde

Mongols attack Baghdad

In 1258, Mongol forces sacked Baghdad, killed the caliph, and replaced the Abbasid caliphate with the Il-Khan Empire

Mongol Empire Unification

The Mongol Empire remained unified until 1265 because the rulers of each khanate recognized the authority of the Great Khan, who ruled from the capital at Karakorum in Mongolia

Karakorum

The capital of the Mongol Empire that became a very cosmopolitan city that attracted many merchants, ambassadors, missionaries, and other visitors

Kublai Khan

Declared himself the Great Khan in 1265, but his claim was rejected by other Mongol rulers. After fighting destroyed the capital of Karakorum, Kublai moved the capital to Beijing and founded the Yuan Empire in 1217

The Yuan Empire

The Yuan Empire, founded by Kublai Khan, conquered the Tanggut, Jin, and Song Empires. Korea and forced the kingdoms of Vietnam to become tribute states. The conquered and uniting of the Chinese Empires allowed for the country to have a more common culture

Mongol Tolerance

Mongols tolerated local beliefs and customs and allowed local rulers to remain in control if they paid tribute

Mongol Trade

Mongols opened long distance trade routes in re-established the Silk Road. The resurgence in long distance trade also spread plague throughout Eurasia (The Black Death)

The Il-Khan Empire

Controlled the region of Iron and Mesopotamia. Muslims initially despised the Mongols because of their shamanistic beliefs and use of idols (Il-Khan rulers became Muslim after 1295). High taxes combined with the use of paper money created a severe depression in the 14th century. Regardless, the culture of the region continued to make advancements in science, mathematics, and literature

Tax Farming

The position of tax collector in the Mongolian Empires was highly sought after because the tax collector could conduct tax farming where they obtain the taxes asked of them by the government and then can pocket left over excess taxes

The Golden Horde

Mongol rulers established their capital at the mouth of the Volga River and converted to Islam. Mongols allowed the Eastern Orthodox Church (the Catholic Church) to remain in place along with local Russian nobility, but took heavy taxes out on them

Alexander Nevskii

The Prince of Novgorod, he persuaded the nobility of Novgorod and Moscow to cooperate with the Mongols after they invaded. This allowed for Russia to be spared and these cities became the center of Russian civilization

Ivan III

In 1480, Ivan III, the Prince of Moscow, ended Mongol rule of Russia and made himself Czar, or the emperor

Mongols and Europe

In the 13th century, Mongol armies advanced to the city of Vienna and threatened to conquer all of Europe. Europe was spared because the death of the Great Khan Ogodei in 1241. The leaders of the Mongol army withdrew from Europe to elect his successor

Mongol Empire and Europe Trade

Trade between Europe and the Mongol Empire gave the Europeans greater knowledge about geography, science, technology, and mathematics

Marco Polo

An Italian merchant from Venice who traveled with his father and uncle to China during the reign of Kublai Khan (founder of the Yuan dynasty). The entire trip took 24 years (beginning in 1269). The Polos met Kublai Khan and spent time at his court

Yuan Empire and Chinese Influences

Kublai adopted many features of the Chinese government, but introduced tax farming, placed Asian Muslims in high ranking positions, and created a hierarchy based on race (Mongols and central Asians at the top, Chinese at the bottom)

Mongols in China

After conquering China, Mongols reduced the influence of Confucianism and the civil service system. Many wealthy and educated Chinese became merchants (developed corporations and sold shares in business; stocks)

Yuan Empire Invasions

The Yuan Empire defeated Korea and attempted to invade Japan twice, but failed. The Japanese resisted the Mongols and storms helped the Japanese (The Japanese called them "Kamikazes" or divine wind)

Rural China during Mongol Rule

Rural areas in China suffered due to high taxes, the flooding of the Yellow River, and disease (Black Death). The Chinese population may have declined 40% during the Yuan dynasty

Zhu Yuanzhang

A former monk, soldier, and bandit who led a rebellion against the Mongols and created the Ming dynasty in 1368. He moved the capital to Nanjing and revived the civil service system. The capital was moved back to Beijing by Emperor Yongle

Emperor Yongle

Emperor during the Ming dynasty. He increased trade with the west and funded a series of naval expeditions to demonstrate Chinese power and promote trade with India, the Persian Gulf region, and Africa

The Treasure Fleet

A fleet of ships led by the 15th-century Ming Dynasty admiral Zheng He. They explored the coast of Africa and organized many new tribute states for the Emperor Yongle

Death of Yongle

After the death of Emperor Yongle of the Ming dynasty, the voyages were ended, the ships were burned, and trade was reduced. China became more isolated

Great Wall of China

Previous dynasties built fortifications along China's northern border to protect against invasion, but the Ming dynasty constructed most of the Great Wall as it exists today

Advancements in the Ming Dynasty

The pace of technological innovation slowed during the Ming period, but China maintained a high level of culture with many accomplishments in the literary and visual arts (porcelain, paining, fine furniture, and silks)